A volunteer fire chief in the Hudson Valley has died during storm cleanup, in a loss that officials say struck the community he had long served.
According to officials, Chief David Gagnon was working to get a tree off the road in the town of Rosendale, in Ulster County, when the incident happened on Friday.
Officials said part of a tree snapped and struck him as he cleared storm debris, a routine but dangerous task in the aftermath of the severe weather.
Gagnon was a member of the Cottekill Fire Department, where officials said he had served for more than 30 years, a long commitment to his community.
Beyond the fire service, Gagnon had also been a member of the New York National Guard for 35 years, adding to a lifetime of service.
He was 58 years old. His death came as crews across the region continued to clean up after the storms that swept through, underscoring the risks that come with the work.